NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
423 reportsMileage unknown · Feb 5, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL PARK IN DRIVEWAY ENGINE STARTED SHAKING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE FOR A TEST, AND WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM PIPE, AND ANTI-FREEZE SMELL WAS FELT INSIDE OF VEHICLE THEN, DEALER STATED THAT ENGINE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK THE MANUFACTURER HAD RECALLED OTHER VEHICLES WITH THIS DEFECT BUT DECLINED …
Read full complaint
WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL PARK IN DRIVEWAY ENGINE STARTED SHAKING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE FOR A TEST, AND WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM PIPE, AND ANTI-FREEZE SMELL WAS FELT INSIDE OF VEHICLE THEN, DEALER STATED THAT ENGINE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK THE MANUFACTURER HAD RECALLED OTHER VEHICLES WITH THIS DEFECT BUT DECLINED TO FIX THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. *YH
NHTSA ODI #879803
Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET FAILURE. FORD IMPLIES THAT HEAD GASKETS SHOULD LAST 100,000 MILES. WILL NOT HONOR ON THUNDERBIRD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #740466
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2001
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHT LENS COVER HAS BECOME VERY DIMMED OR CLOUDED OVER. THIS MAKES LIGHTING ALMOST NON EXISTENT WHEN IT'S DARK. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE, AND CAN NOT SEE ROAD CLEARLY. PROBLEM IS STEADY OR HAS STEADILY GOTTEN WORSE.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT RECALL 99V275 WAS COMPLETE ON VEHICLE , HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, DEALER …
Read full complaint
HEADLIGHT LENS COVER HAS BECOME VERY DIMMED OR CLOUDED OVER. THIS MAKES LIGHTING ALMOST NON EXISTENT WHEN IT'S DARK. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE, AND CAN NOT SEE ROAD CLEARLY. PROBLEM IS STEADY OR HAS STEADILY GOTTEN WORSE.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT RECALL 99V275 WAS COMPLETE ON VEHICLE , HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, DEALER WILL ONLY DO REPAIR IF CONSUMER PAYS FOR IT. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #879620
Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSteering
FIRESTONE TIRES WERE REPLACED TWICE, ONCE AT 32900 MILES AND ALSO AT 55000 MILES. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #559009
Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. REPLACEMENT ONLY LASTED ABOUT 1 YEAR, NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. ALSO, ENGINE WILL BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #877844
Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2001
Exterior LightingFuel System, Other
OWNER NOT SATISFIED WITH CORRECTIVE ACTION FOR RECALL CAMPAIGNS (99V-275 & 97V-159), DOES NOT WANT TO LEAVE VEHICLE ALL DAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF HEADLIGHT SWITCH (99V-257),VEHICLE TAKEN TO THREE DEALERSHIPS, CONSUMER EXPERIENCING HEADLIGHT FAILURE, DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO CORRECT RECALL 97V-159. *CJ
NHTSA ODI #558878
Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control
I AM WRITING TO YOU BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING MY CAR YESTERDAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JUST STARTED ACCELERATING BY ITSELF . IT WENT FROM 10 MPH TO 70 MPH WITHOUT ME EVEN TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. I FINALLY PUSHED ON THE BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR AND SHUT IT OFF. EVEN THOUGH I WAS APPLYING ON THE BRAKE IT DID NOT WANT TO STOP. THE ENG…
Read full complaint
I AM WRITING TO YOU BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING MY CAR YESTERDAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JUST STARTED ACCELERATING BY ITSELF . IT WENT FROM 10 MPH TO 70 MPH WITHOUT ME EVEN TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. I FINALLY PUSHED ON THE BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR AND SHUT IT OFF. EVEN THOUGH I WAS APPLYING ON THE BRAKE IT DID NOT WANT TO STOP. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL GARAGE AND HE CALLED ME TODAY TO TELL ME IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY LEVER GROMMET . I DID A SEACH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS EXACT PART. RECALL # 93B31. HOWEVER IT WAS NOT INCLUDED ON MY CAR BECAUSE THE LADY AT FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID IT WAS VEHICLE SPECIFIC. DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT TO ME. SAME CAR , SAME PART, SAME PROBLEM , CAN CAUSE A HUGE ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY FATALITIES COULD ARISE FROM THIS DEFECT AND SHE SAID SORRY , CAN'T HELP YA. FORD WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBLITY FOR THIS . PLEASE RESPOND TO ME AND LET ME KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *AK
NHTSA ODI #739011
Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
A RECALL FOR PREMATURE FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS HAS BEEN INITITATED FOR THE 94 AND 95 MODELS. A SIMPLE LOOK AT YOUR OWN DATABASE PLUS MY EXPERIENCE INDICATES THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM IS MUCH WIDER THAN JUST THESE TWO MODEL YEARS.
NHTSA ODI #738690
Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
WOULD LIKE A REFUND OF $1619.01 FOR HEAD GASKET REPAIR. WOULD LIKE VOLT METER AND CRUIZ CONTROL FIXED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #737916
Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKETS WERE OVER TIGHTENED ON ASSEMEBLY LINE,1994 AND LATER WERE RECALLED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #737906
Official recalls
3Oct 12, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FOG LIGHTS, IN WHICH THE HEADLIGHTS MAY GO OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS AND WHICH MAY BE PRECEDED BY FLICKERING OR BLINKING AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH INCORPORATES A CIRCUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN, AND INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, IF NEEDED.
Sep 22, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WEST VIRGINIA. MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL LINES CAUSES THE NYLON FUEL LINE JUMPER TO CHAFE AGAINST THE FLOOR PAN. THIS WEAR CAN CAUSE A PIN HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTS IN DAMPNESS AND FUEL ODOR, AND IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PLASTIC CONVOLUTE COVERING AROUND THE FUEL LINES. IF THE LINES SHOW A LEAK, THE LINES WILL BE REPLACED FIRST.
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3EA99005 · Headlight Switch
Opened Jan 20, 1999 · Closed Dec 14, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WITH AN INTERNAL, BIMETAL CIRCUIT BREAKER THAT CAN OPEN DUE TO OVERHEATING DURING HEADLING OPERATION.
RQ98015 · Headlight Circuit Breaker
Opened Sep 29, 1998 · Closed Jan 22, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
HEADLIGHT SWITCH WITH AN ITERNAL, BIMETAL CIRCUIT BREALER THAT MAY OPEN DUE TO OVERHEATING DURING HEADLIGHT OPERATION
RQ97011 · Fuel Line Jumper
Opened Sep 25, 1997 · Closed Nov 16, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF THE ALLEGED FUEL LINE FAILURES OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL GEOGRAPHIC REGION AND IF THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED NATIONALLY
Illustration